A09950:429
The Breastplate of Faith and Love
The breast-plate of faith and love. A treatise, wherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good works, is explained. / Delivered in 18 sermons upon three several texts, by the late faithful and worthy minister of Jesus Christ, John Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplain in ordinary to his Majesty, Master of Emmanuel College in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolns Inn.The breast-plate of faith and love. A treatise, wherein the ground and exercise of faith and love, as they are set upon Christ their object, and as they are expressed in good workes, is explained. / Delivered in 18 sermons upon three severall texts, by the late faithfull and worthy minister of Iesus Christ, Iohn Preston, Dr. in Divinity, chaplaine in ordinary to his Maiesty, Master of Emmanuel Colledge in Cambridge, and sometimes preacher of Lincolnes Inne.
London: printed by W. Jones for Nicolas Bourne, 1630London: printed by W. Iones for Nicolas Bourne, 1630
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1I answer, that there is a double justification, there is a justification of the person;2 so was Abraham justified by faith, as Paul expresseth it, Rom. 4.3 But then there is a second justification, a justification of the faith that Abraham had, he justified his faith by his works, he showed that he had not a dead faith, a lifeless faith, a faith without works, but that he had a lively effectual faith: for he added works to his faith, his works wrought together with his faith. So that, if the question be, Whether Abraham was an hypocrite? his works justified him that he was none. If the question be, Whether Abraham was a sinner? his faith justifieth him, and shows that he was made righteous through faith.4 So, there is a justification of the person, and a justification of the faith of the person: as when a man is said to justify such an action,5 or such a cause, the meaning is not, that he will make that just which was unjust before, but he will make it appear to be just; so Abraham was declared to have a justifying faith, by that power and efficacy it wrought in him, in offering up his son.